Adjustable picture frame



0ct.22,1'957 N; G. Howm Y V2,810,226

' ADJUSTABLE PICTURE mmm Filed May .13, 1953 ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Nathan George Horwitt, Lenox, Mass.

Application May 13, 1953, Serial No. 354,795

2 Claims. (Cl. 40155) The present invention relates generally to adjustable frame for supporting pictures, mirrors, plaques or other similar objects.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple and yet eiicient frame for supporting articles of the described type.

Another object is the provision of a frame which is adjustable in a vertical direction so as to accommodate or adjust to the lengths or heights of the pictures or other articles which are to be supported thereby.

Another object is the provision of a frame which is also adjustable for the thickness of the articles which are supported thereby.

A still further object is the provision of a frame which can be used to support pictures having either a curved edge or a straight edge.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of an adjustable frame for supporting the picture shown therein, and illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side, or end elevation, on a larger scale, of the adjustable frame and picture illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower member of the adjustable frame;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrates and adjustment to compensate for a picture of reduced thickness;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrates a frame member pursuant to another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the frame member illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring now to Figs. l through 4 in detail there is illustrated an adjustable frame generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, pursuant to the present invention; Said' frame comprising the companion upper and lower frame members 12 and 14, respectively, which are interconnected by the flexible elongated element or string 16.

Frame member 12, as here shown, is formed of a substantially rigid wire or metal strip and is substantially of triangular configuration. Said frame member comprises the cross bar 13 having, at each end thereof, a rearwardly directed linear portion 20, and said portions 20 interconnect the cross member 18 with the mutual converging arms 22-22. The arms 22-22 at their free ends are secured to a frame piece or disc 24 which is provided with vertically aligned apertures 26-26 for the string 16. The arms 22 are each provided with a tubular resilient member or sleeve 28, preferably formed of rubber.

The lower frame member 14 is substantially similar in construction to the upper frame member 12, being provided with the cross member 18', the rearwardly dinite rates atent Patented Oct. 22,y 1957 rected portion 20-20, the mutually converging arms 22-22, the free ends of which are secured to a frame piece or securing disc 30. The disc 30 differs from the disc 24 in that in place of the vertically aligned apertures of the latter, the disc 30 is provided with an aperture 32 and a radial open slot 34 which is vertically aligned with the aperture 32. The lower frame member 14 is also provided wtih the rubber sleeves 28.

In using the adjustable frame 10 of the present invention, the upper frame member 12 is set over the top edge of the composite picture P constituted by the glass 36, the picture 38 and the backing member 40, while the lower frame member 14 is mounted on their lower edge, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. As here shown, the rubber sleeves 2S on the upper and lower frame members cover n the rearwardly directed portions 20 and 20', respectively,

, string then passing through the aperture 32 in the lower frame member from the rear thereof. The part of the string which projects through the aperture in the lower frame member is then pulled up until the longitudinal distance between the upper and lower frame members is properly adjusted so that they are tensioned to tightly grip the upper and lower edges of the picture P, as illustrated in Fig. 2,-with the cross-pieces at the front of the picture. In order to retain said adjustment, the string is wound tightly about a forwardly projecting portion 43 of the disc 30 which extends between the disc and the arms 22 of the lower frame member as best illustrated in Fig.

4. Thereafter, after most of the extending portion of the string has been wound on the portion 43, the free end 44 thereof is frictionally engaged in the slot 34 so that said free end is firmly secured in the slot, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. In this connection, it will be understood that the width of the slot is dimensioned to pro-l vide a tight fit for the string therein. It will also be understood that the thickness of the string at the base of the loop, as at 46, is such that the string 16 can be adjusted only to the point where the base of the loop enters the upper aperture in the disc 24, so that the loop 42 projects therefrom and the string is anchored in the piece 24. In order to mount the picture and its frame 10 on a wall, the loop may be hung on a hook 4S in the wall W.

Therubber sleeves l28 serve to protect the picture from themetal portions of the frame members and'in addition provided a `friction hold between the converging arms ony when the string, after passing through the aperture 32 in the disc 30, is drawn up for adjusting the vertical spacing between the frame members so that they properly engage the upper and lower edges of the picture. In addition to the foregoing, the rubber sleeves are also adjustable to provide for the mounting of a picture of a different thickness. Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the rubber sleeves may be adjusted so that, in addition to covering the rearwardly directed portions 20 and 20', respectively, of the upper and lower frame members, as in Fig. 2, they may also cover the substantially right angularly directed portions 50 and 50 of the upper and lower frame members, respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 4 in connection with the lower frame member. Said portions 50 and 50 oppose the arms 22 and 22', respectively, and

, Y` define therewith picture receiving seats of predetermined width. It will be noted that the disposition of the sleeves, t

as in Fig. 4, reduces the distance between said angularly directed portions 50 and 50' and the converging opposing arms of the companion frame member, whereby to vary the width of Said seats` Iso as to accommodate a picture P' which is thinner than the picture P. While the picture P, or the picture P, has been described as comprising the three Separate elements of the glass 36, the picture 38 and hthe backing member 40, it will be understood thatyi'f desired, the glass, `or a separate backing member, or both, may be omitted and the picture alone may be mounted in the adjustable frame. For example, and not by way of limitation, the picture may be constituted by a picture postcard which would be suthciently rigid without `the use `of a separate backing member, and would not require a glass. p

While the picture P, or P',V has been described in connection with a picture having upper and lower straight edges, as illustrated in full line in Fig. l, and in Fig. 2, it will be understood that the adjustable frame 10 may also be used to mount a picture having upper and lower curved edges 52 and 54, respectively, as illustrated in broken line in Fig. l. In this connection it will be apparent that the rearwardly directed portions 20 the upper frame member, covered by the companion rubber sleeves, provide two laterally spaced points of support for the curved edges 52, and the cross member 18 prevents movement of the picture outwardly of the frame member, as in the case of the picture having upper and lower straight edges. Similarly, the portions 20 of the lower frame member, covered by the companion rubber sleeves, provide two laterally spaced points of support for the lower curved edge 54, and the companion cross-piece 18 prevents movement of the picture outwardly of the frame member.

`Referring now to Figs. and 6 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. Pursuant to the subject embodiment, the cross members 18 and 18 on the upper and lower frame members, are omitted and, as illustrated in connection with a lower frame member 14', the angularly directed portions 50' alone are re- 14', the angularly or upwardly directed hooks 50 of` the lower frame member are disposed forwardly of the picture P and retain the latter within the frame in cooperation with similar but downwardly directed hooks of the companion upper frame member. As previously described `in connection with the prior embodiment, the

sleeves 28 could be adjusted to cover the hooks 50 and to accommodate a thinner picture.

While the invention has been described in connection with a picture, it will be understood that the adjustable frame may be used to hang other types of articles, such as, for example and not by way of limitation, mirrors, plaques, etc.

While I have shown and described the preferred ernbodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims, wherein the term picture includes a composite picture, as previously described, with or without either the glass and backing member, as well as the picture itself.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A frame ,of the character described, comprising a pair of lopen frame members for engaging the opposite edges, respectively, of either a picture having curved edges or a picture having straight edges, means for adjusting said Vframe members to the height of the picture, and means for adjusting said frame members to the thicknessof the picture, said frame members having portions which overlie and straddle the picture edges, said portions defining picture receiving seats of predetermined width, and said thickness adjusting means comprising resilient elements movably mounted by said straddling portions for varying the width of said seats.

2. A frame of the character described, comprising a pair of open frame members for engaging the opposite edges, respectively, of either a picture having curved edges or a picture having straight edges, means for adjusting said frame members to the height of the picture, and means for adjusting said frame members to the thickness of the picture, said frame members having portions which overlie and straddle the picture edges, said portions defining picture receiving seats of predetermined width, and said"thickness adjusting means comprising resilient elements Vmovabl'y mounted by said straddling portions for varying the width of said seats, said height adjusting means comprising a single run flexible elongated element interconnecting said open frame members to draw them together for tensioning said open frame members against said opposite edges, respectively.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

